Noosa loses magic mentor Ben Cahn

Peter GardinerWhat is in The Spray that Peter Gardiner uses so liberally on the sporting shonks and shysters every Thursday? Pete rants at all the sporting injustices at this world…like why can’t Darren Lockyer go back to playing fullback and why the hell did they put Eddie McGuire in charge of everything?

NOOSA Lions' driving coaching force Ben Cahn, after steering his football side to within a whisker of the FFA Cup final round, has been head-hunted to the A-League Central Coast Mariners to take over the key role of youth coach.

The London-raised local player-coach will be hanging up his boots to pick up the coaching clipboard down at Gosford from February 1 and hopes his side's debut will be more memorable than his first game for Noosa.

"I played my first game for Noosa on my 21st birthday which we lost 6-0," the retiring midfielder said before his last Lions hit out on Friday night in the preseason match at Narangba.

Cahn, 28, said he has always had some sort of coaching role since his arrival to Noosa and his big break, though unsought, is exactly where he wants to head.

"I was very lucky they contacted me after getting a reference from someone and we took it from there," Cahn said.

"I've been talking to them for a number of weeks and I decided to take the risk and try and make it happen.

The Lions under Cahn enjoyed a magical run in the FFA Cup until they lucked out 1-0 to Palm Beach last year.

Noosa officials have praised Cahn for his "dedication, enthusiasm and passion" and urged him not to forget his supporters here when he is famous.

Lions president Alinda Bryant said the Mariners appointment was "a fantastic opportunity for him and it shows the quality of coaches we have at Noosa."

"We've got a team of coaches who have been behind the scenes to take over. They'll be in good hands".

And the same could be said for the young Mariners.

Cahn, who was in charge of the top Lions side for two seasons, in return paid tribute to his team at Noosa.

"There's always been a good solid core of players at Noosa and I've always had good relationships with them, so it was never too difficult," he said. "If there is something I can say about my time there (at Noosa) it would be that I've been surrounded by such supportive and helpful people." "I've been really lucky with the people who have supported me," Cahn said.